Obama wanted Thibodeau as Bulls coach: Sun-Times Lacy Banks scoop

WASHINGTON–On Wednesday night, President Obama will be watching the Chicago Bulls play the Charlotte Bobcats at the White House. His guests will include a group of bipartisan members of Congress representing Chicago and Charlotte, the White House said.

Obama welcomes the Stanley Cup winning Chicago Blackhawks to the White House on Friday.

The basketball playing Obama–his Education Secretary Arne Duncan and his former senior advisor David Axelrod–have more than a fans interest in the Bulls,Chicago Sun-Times Bulls reporter Lacy Banks revealed in his scoop headlined, “Obama, White House wanted Thibodeau coaching Bulls”

Writes Banks in his exclusive interview with Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf:

”Tom Thibodeau was first recommended to me by [U.S. Secretary of Education] Arne Duncan,” Reinsdorf said during an exclusive interview with the Sun-Times on Tuesday. ”And that was two years earlier. The Celtics didn’t give us a chance to talk with him until after the playoffs, when they won the championship.”

…..”When the job was open again, I talked to Duncan several times on the subject, and he still strongly recommended Thibodeau,” Reins-dorf recalled. ”So we hired him. Then in July 2010, the White Sox were playing in Washington, and we invited President Obama to come to the game.

”First, David Axelrod [then Obama’s senior adviser] arrived and said, ‘Thanks for hiring Thibodeau.’ Then a little while later, President Obama came in and the first thing he said to me was, ‘Great hire.’

”Isn’t that a beautiful story?”